Pavement for traffic area with pavement elements made of artificial stone material

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to pavement material for traffic areas which consists of artificial stone material. Said pavement material is characterized in that it comprises normal pavement elements and symbol-carrying pavement elements. It is furthermore characterized in that when a spatially coherent group of symbol pavement elements is viewed the symbol pavement elements of said group are arranged so as to have the same direction.

[0001] This application is a continuation of PCT application number PCT/EP99/08873 filed on Nov. 18, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to pavements and pavement elements.

II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In one aspect, the present invention provides for a pavement for traffic areas, constructed with pavement elements made of artificial stone material, with the following characteristics:

[0004] (a) pavement elements with markings having a meaning are provided, in which an understanding of the marking having a meaning is dependent upon the direction of the pavement element in the pavement;

[0005] (b) and there are normal pavement elements without markings having a meaning, characterised in that,

[0006] (c) the pavement elements with markings having a meaning are provided at individual locations of the pavement where information is intended to be passed, in each case as a group consisting of several pavement elements with markings having a meaning;

[0007] (d) and that the pavement elements with markings having a meaning of the respective group are all oriented in the pavement in the same direction.

[0008] The object of the invention is a pavement for traffic areas, constructed with pavement elements made of artificial stone material, characterized in that it includes normal pavement elements and symbol pavement elements; wherein, when observing a group of symbol pavement elements, which group belongs together, the symbol pavement elements of the group are all oriented in the same direction.

[0009] Pavements for traffic areas, constructed with pavement elements made of artificial stone material, are already known in a plurality of pavement element shapes. Up to now, pavements have, as a rule, been constructed of identical pavement elements, or of differing pavement elements alternating regularly, in order to achieve various patterns in the pavement. The pavement in accordance with the invention, however, has to do with the incorporation of special symbol pavement elements in individual regions of the pavement. The symbol pavement elements are in contrast with the uniformity of the rest of the pavement. By way of arranging, at least group-wise, with the same orientation, the optical recognition of the message of the symbol is improved.

[0010] It is particularly preferred for the symbol pavement elements to be distinguished from the normal pavement elements by way of the optical differentiation of a symbol (e.g., letters, numbers/numerals, short words, more or less abstract symbols for human beings, logos or other symbols). In this respect, one can also speak of a pavement for traffic areas conveying message or information at particular locations.

[0011] Preferably, the normal pavement elements make up the major portion of the pavement.

[0012] In particular, such areas are regarded as traffic areas which are provided for vehicle traffic, bicycle traffic or pedestrian traffic, however not the areas provided for the walking in private, closed volumes. Particularly typical and preferred areas for use are the following: squares, courtyards, gateways, walkways, streets, pedestrian zones, loading zones, terraces, parking zones for vehicles, gas stations, industrially utilized surfaces, industrially travelled surfaces, workyards, container locations. Preferably, we are dealing with pavements “located out-of-doors” or the paving of outside areas, respectively.

[0013] The above mentioned artificial stone material is, in most cases, concrete. Brick-like materials can be mentioned as a further preferred possibility. Generally, any material can be used as well which contains additives or fillers that are mixed with binders (including plastic) which harden in a time-dependent manner. However, pavement elements, in particular a part of the overall total of pavement elements in a pavement, especially symbol pavement elements, can be partially or entirely of plastic.

[0014] It is preferred that the symbol pavement elements have such a shape that they can be positioned only in one relative position or only in a small number of relative positions (preferably a maximum of four, most preferred a maximum of two) with respect to the neighbouring laid pavement elements (i.e. normal pavement elements and/or symbol pavement elements). When there is only a small number of possible relative positions, the worker needs to worry only about laying the elements in the “correct” one of these relative positions. For a design with such a shape that only a single relative position is possible, the worker laying the elements no longer has to pay even that attention.

[0015] Preferably each of the symbol pavement elements has at least one contoured region on its periphery, which cooperates with a counter contoured region on a neighbouring pavement element (i.e. a normal pavement element or a symbol pavement element) which determines the relative position(s). With the contoured region and the counter contoured region one can define a particular relative position or a small number of relative positions, independently of the remaining geometric shape of the pavement elements.

[0016] Within the considered group, the symbol pavement elements can be provided neighbour-to-neighbour, or can be provided neighbour-to-neighbour in only a single direction of the pavement. A further preferred embodiment possibility is to provide the symbol pavement elements in regular, recurring spacing, wherein preferably the uniform spacing in a first direction of the pavement can be different from the uniform spacing in a second direction of the pavement.

[0017] Preferably at least some of the normal pavement elements and/or at least some symbol pavement elements exhibit spacing projections at the periphery. In particular, the spacing projections can be sized so as to provide small gaps with a width of 5 mm at most between neighbouring laid pavement elements, thus simplifying the laying of the pavement elements. These “small” gaps, which are from 3-5 mm wide in most cases, are those gaps which normally are present as laying gaps between the pavement elements in the pavement, and which are normally filled up with sand after the laying of the pavement elements. If the pavement elements have such “small” spacing projections, the worker has his work simplified by way of the contact with the spacing projections. On the other hand, the spacing projections can have in particular a size which results in wide gaps with a width of at least 8 mm between neighbouring laid pavement elements, such that efficient water drainage gaps are formed. If these “larger” spacing projections are provided, the result is relatively wide gaps between neighbouring laid pavement elements. These gaps are likewise normally filled with sand or with fine gravel. Through these “wide gaps”, rainwater can be drained away more effectively than it can through the “small grooves of normal width” between the pavement elements, so that the laid area no longer needs to be ducted to a waste-water facility, and a contribution to the desirable enrichment of the ground water is made possible. Utilizing the “smaller” spacing projections or the “larger” spacing projections, it is possible either to proceed such that the projections of a given pavement element come into contact with locations on the neighbouring pavement element, which are not provided with a projection, or one can proceed such that the projections come into contact with locations on the neighbouring laid pavement elements where the latter likewise have projections; in this case, therefore, the projections come into contact in pairs. It will be understood that, in this case, the projections have a “projecting dimension” with respect to the remaining pavement element contour, which corresponds to about half of the desired gap width; in the first case sketched above, the “projecting dimension” of the projection corresponds approximately to the desired gap width.

[0018] It is further preferred that at least some normal pavement elements and/or at least some symbol pavement elements have locations where material is omitted, whereby efficient water drainage openings are provided in the pavement. For such efficient water drainage openings and the water removal capacity thus attained for the pavement, the previously expressed remarks regarding the water drainage gaps can be analogously applied.

III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The invention and further developments thereof will be described in greater detail below, with reference to example embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

[0020]FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of a segment of a pavement for traffic areas.

[0021]FIG. 2 illustrates a top plan view of a segment of a different embodiment of a pavement.

[0022]FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of a symbol pavement element of the pavement shown in FIG. 2, in which possible modifications are illustrated.

[0023]FIG. 4 illustrates a top plan view of a symbol pavement element of the pavement shown in FIG. 2, however with a variation.

IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] The pavement for traffic areas, a segment of which is illustrated in FIG. 1, hereinafter referred to as “pavement 2”, consists primarily of normal pavement elements 4, all of which have a square shape when seen in plan view. Oriented lengthwise of several lines through the pavement 2, the latter exhibits symbol pavement elements 6, all of which in plan view have four times the size of a normal pavement element 4, and show an arrow symbol resulting from optical differentiation.

[0025] The symbol pavement elements 6 are very striking to the eye, compared with the remaining pavement 2.

[0026] Altogether, the segment of pavement 2 illustrated in FIG. 1 has four groups 10, 12, 14, 16 of symbol pavement elements 6. Each group 10, 12, 14, 16 can terminate as shown in FIG. 1; alternatively, individual groups 10, 12, 14, 16 can have a greater length than is shown in FIG. 1. Each group 10, 12, 14, 16 represents a rectilinear sequence of several symbol pavement elements 6, wherein the groups 10, 14 extend up and down, and the groups 12, 16 extend left and right in FIG. 1. In groups 10, 14, the symbol pavement elements 6 have a regular, repeating distance between them. Also, in groups 12, 16, the symbol pavement elements have a regular repeating distance between them, but the latter distance is twice as great as that in groups 10, 14.

[0027] For the sake of completeness it should be pointed out that small gaps are located everywhere in the pavement between neighbouring pavement elements, 4, 4; 4, 6; 6, 6. In view of that, it would have been necessary, strictly, to illustrate all of the gaps in FIG. 1 with a double line. However, for the sake of clarity, the gaps in FIG. 1 are shown by a single line.

[0028] It is further pointed out that it is not essential for the normal pavement elements 4 to have the same size and/or shape throughout the pavement 2. As an alternative, it is conceivable, within the normal pavement elements 4, to alternate “small squares” with “large squares” that have quadruple the size. It is also conceivable to exchange the illustrated small squares for lengthwise rectangular normal pavement elements 4 having the size of two squares.

[0029] The other embodiment of a pavement 2, illustrated in FIG. 2, is different from the embodiment of a pavement 2 shown in FIG. 1, in that the symbol pavement elements 6—in top view—with same square shape as the normal pavement element 4, have the same size, but exhibit an optically differentiated symbol, here for example a wheelchair symbol as is widely used for handicapped individuals. All eight of the symbol pavement elements 6 of the segment of a pavement 2 illustrated in FIG. 2 (these eight symbol pavement elements 6 represent a group) are arranged in the same direction relative to the normal pavement elements, and indicate for example a location which is particularly suitable for handicapped individuals to rest, or is intended for the storage of wheelchairs.

[0030] The optical differentiation of the symbol of the respective symbol pavement element 6 is preferably provided by recessed or projecting surface regions of the respective symbol pavement element 6 (wherein the recessed regions or the region left between two raised regions can be filled with colour-contrast material preferably based on plastic or on the basis of a cemented mass to the same height) or inlaid symbols of other material, preferably metal. A further possibility is to make the upper face region completely or almost completely of plastic, and then to bind this cover-like piece to the rest of the pavement element.

[0031] A further possibility is to optically differentiate the symbol by way of a surface structure having a preferred orientation, in particular utilizing a system with parallel corrugations. This invention is not restricted to differentiating the symbol pavement elements 6 from the normal elements 4 exclusively by way of conspicuous colouring.

[0032] In accordance with the embodiments shown in FIG. 1, the symbol pavement elements 6 can be laid in a maximum of four possible relative positions compared to the normal pavement elements 4, specifically in the four relative positions illustrated in FIG. 1. The same applies to the symbol pavement elements 6 in the FIG. 2 embodiment.

[0033] In FIG. 4 there is illustrated a modified symbol pavement element 6 a, which exhibits, on each of two continuous sides of the square, in the middle, a projection in the form of a small square as seen in plan view. In the middle of each of the other two sides of the square there is provided a recess 22 appearing in plan view as a small square, wherein each recess 22 is slightly larger than a projection 20. The normal pavement elements 4 which are to be laid along with the symbol pavement elements 6 a are likewise constructed, with projections 20 and recesses 22. It will be readily appreciated that, by virtue of the distribution of the projections 20 and recesses 22 on the normal pavement elements 4 and the symbol pavement elements 6 a, the symbol pavement elements 6 a can be laid in only a single relative position with respect to the adjacent pavement elements 4, 6 a, such that the position and direction of the projections 20 and the recesses 22 shown in FIG. 4 apply throughout the entire pavement 2.

[0034] In FIG. 3 there is illustrated, to a larger scale, a symbol pavement element 6 of the pavement 2, in which two modifications are shown.

[0035] Each square side exhibits, at a location displaced clockwise a given amount to the right of its midpoint, a “small” spacing projection 24, which is semi-circular in plan view, and has for example a “projecting dimension” of 2-4 mm with respect to the corresponding side of the square. There would also be corresponding spacing projections 24 on the other symbol pavement elements 6 and the normal pavement elements 4. These spacing projections 24 make it easier to lay the pavement elements 4, 6.

[0036] Alternatively, it is possible to provide, instead of the illustrated and above described “small” spacing projections 10, “larger” spacing projections with a projecting dimension of, for example, 4-15 mm. On the “pairs of pavement element sides” where the larger spacing projections are located, there will be formed efficient water drainage gaps between adjacent pavement elements 4, 4; 4, 6; 6, 6.

[0037]FIG. 3 illustrates a possible modification, in that the symbol pavement element 6 has, at all four corners, an omission of material 26 which in plan view is triangular. Thus, the four corners of the symbol pavement element 6 are, so to speak, cut away along respective oblique lines 28. Analogous material omissions 26 have to be conceived for the other symbol pavement elements 6 and the normal pavement elements 4. Altogether, the material omission locations 26 provide efficient water drainage openings in the pavement 2.

[0038] All of the pavement elements 4, 6 are constructed of concrete; thus one might refer to concrete stones for pavements. In practice, the pavement elements 4, 6 normally have a bevel at the juncture between the upper surfaces visible in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, and the side surfaces, thus in the form of a small 45° chamfer between the indicated surfaces. For reasons of clarity, the bevel is not illustrated. 

1. A pavement for traffic areas, constructed with pavement elements made of artificial stone material, with the following characteristics: marked pavement elements with markings having a meaning are provided, in which an understanding of the marking having a meaning is dependent upon the direction of the pavement element in the pavement; and normal pavement elements, and wherein the marked pavement elements are provided at individual locations of the pavement where information is intended to be passed, in each case as a group including several of the marked pavement elements; and the marked pavement elements of the respective group are all oriented in the pavement in the same direction.
 2. A pavement for traffic areas according to claim 1 , wherein the marked pavement elements have such a shape that they are positionable in only one orientation in the pavement.
 3. A pavement for traffic areas according to claim 2 , wherein the marked pavement elements each have at least one contoured region in their periphery which cooperates with a complementary region in a neighboring pavement element to determine the direction.
 4. A pavement for traffic areas according to claim 1 , wherein within the group the marked pavement elements have a regular interval from one another.
 5. A pavement for traffic areas according to claim 4 , wherein the regular interval in a first direction of the pavement is different from the regular interval in a second direction of the pavement.
 6. A pavement for traffic areas according to claim 1 , wherein the marked pavement elements differ from the normal pavement elements by the optical differentiation of a symbol.
 7. A pavement for traffic areas according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the marked pavement elements include spacing projections at the periphery.
 8. A pavement for traffic areas according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the normal pavement elements include spacing projections at the periphery.
 9. A pavement for traffic areas according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the marked pavement elements and at least some of the normal pavement elements include spacing projections at the periphery.
 10. A pavement for traffic areas according to claim 1 , wherein material omission locations are provided in at least some of the marked pavement elements, such that efficient water drainage openings are formed in the pavement.
 11. A pavement for traffic areas according to claim 1 , wherein material omission locations are provided in at least some of the normal pavement elements, such that efficient water drainage openings are formed in the pavement.
 12. A pavement for traffic areas according to claim 1 , wherein material omission locations are provided in at least some of the marked pavement elements and in at least some of the normal pavement elements, such that efficient water drainage openings are formed in the pavement.
 13. A pavement for traffic areas according to claim 1 , wherein the marked pavement elements have such a shape that they are positionable in a small number of orientations in the pavement.
 14. A pavement for traffic areas according to claim 13 , wherein the marked pavement elements each have at least one contoured region in their periphery which cooperates with a complementary region in a neighboring pavement element to determine the direction. 